Muntin bar clip

ABSTRACT

A clip for attaching a tubular muntin bar to a spacer frame provider is disclosed. The clip has a plate with a first edge and a second edge opposite said first edge. The first and second edge are connected by first and second side edges and have an inner surface and an outer surface. The inner surface has a bar plug that extends outwardly from the inner surface of the plate. The plate has a pair of flexible fasteners extending from the outer surface of the plate and the fasteners are positioned between a first tab at one edge of the outer surface of the plate and a second tab at the opposite end edge of the outer surface.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an insulating glass unit andparticularly to a clip that may attach muntin bars to a spacer framethat separates panes of glass in conventional insulated glass units.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Insulating glass units received widespread use because they help toreduce loss of heat from interior of buildings. Generally, theinsulating glasses unite has a peripheral spacer frame sealed betweentwo panes of glass. Muntin bars, inserted between these two panes ofglass may provide the insulated glass unit with an appearance of atraditional divided lite window. Present commercial embodiments of suchdouble-pane insulated glass windows have a spacer frame between panes ofglass that is a generally tubular frame element that separates two paneof glass. A spacer is constructed preferably from a thin ribbon ofstainless steel material. Such frame may be generally planar polygonalin cross-section, producing three walls and two flanged surfaces. Suchframe may extend about the periphery of the unit. The present inventionprovides a new plastic connector to fixedly connect the muntin bars withthe space frame provider.

Examples of space frame providers are generally described in U.S. Pat.No. 5,678,377.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The purpose of the invention is to provide a new connector to interlockintersecting tubular muntin bar and a space frame provider in aninsulating glass unit. The type of a space frame provider this inventionmay apply is a space frame provider generally described in the U.S. Pat.No. 5,678,377 the disclosures of which are incorporated herein byreference. The connecting clip comprises an intermediate plate,connecting fasteners that are projected from the outer surface of theintermediate plate and a bar plug projecting from the inner surface ofthe intermediate plate. The bar plug is insertably positioned in amuntin bar. The clip is latched on a space frame provider and thenfrictionally engages a muntin bar interior to secure the muntin bar upona space frame provider.

A pair of fasteners is provided on the outer surface of the intermediateplate. Both fasteners have a member that extends downwardly away fromthe outer surface of the plate. The fasteners are provided with lateralmembers that extend generally parallel to the outer surface of the plateand generally perpendicular to the downwardly extending members. Thelateral members are preferably facing opposite directions. Thus thefasteners have one end firmly attached to the outer surface of theintermediate plate while the other end remains suspended. The fastenersare generally V-shaped, having approximately right angle elbows, andbecause they are molded or formed from a resilient plastic material, thesuspended ends of the fasteners are flexible. The tips of the suspendedend of the fasteners are preferably tapered in such manner that thetip's thickness is gradually increasing from the lower edge of the tiptoward the upper edge. The distance between the lower edges of tips ofundeflected fasteners is approximately equal to the width of the openingbetween the flanges of spacer frame. In opposite, the distance betweenupper edges of the tips of the fasteners is slightly larger than thewidth of the opening between the edges of the spacer frame. There is aspace between the upper edge of the tip of the suspended end of thefastener and the outer surface of the intermediate plate and such spaceis slightly wider than the width of the flanges of the space frameprovider. This would allow the suspended ends of the fasteners to flexinwardly to permit the fasteners to pass through the opening betweenedges of the spacer frame when the clip is pressed down toward theopening between the edges of the flanges in the space frame provider andfasteners are pushed through such opening, the suspended ends spring outand bear against the surface of the flanges of the spacer frame to latchthe clip in place.

Generally, muntin bars are uniform. The linear dimensions of therectangular bar plug are approximately equal to the internal dimensionsof the hollow, generally rectangular cross-section of a tubular muntinbar. The edges of the cross-members of the bar plug are coincident withthe inner dimensions of the cross-section of a tubular muntin bar andonly lateral ribs of the bar plug that projects outwardly from thecentral rib of the bar plug and inclined toward the intermediate plate,projects beyond such linear dimensions of the bar plug. Thus when thebar plug is inserted into the opening of the muntin bar, the lateralribs frictionally engage the muntin bar interior to secure the muntinbar on the spacer frame.

Additional features of the invention will become apparent from thefollowing detailed description of a preferred embodiment made withreference to accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of the muntin bar clip.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the muntin bar clip.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the muntin bar clip.

FIG. 4 is the opposite side view of the muntin bar clip.

FIG. 5 is a front view of the muntin bar clip positioned on the spacerframe and the muntin bar.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the muntin bar clip positioned on the spacerframe and muntin bar.

FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the muntin bar clip positioned on the spacerframe.

FIG. 8 is an alternative front view of the muntin bar clip.

FIG. 9 is an alternative side view of the muntin bar clip.

FIG. 10 is an alternative bottom view of the muntin bar clip positionedon the spacer frame.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As shown in FIG. 5, a tubular muntin bar 15 is connected with a spaceframe provider, or spacer 11 that separates two panes of glass. The clip1 detachably connects the tubular muntin bar 15 with the spacer 11. Theclip latches into the opening provided between flanges 10 of a spacer.

The clip 1 may have an intermediate plate 2, a pair of fasteners 3 thatare projected from the outer surface 7 of the intermediate plate 2, abar plug 4 that extends outwardly from the inner surface 6 of theintermediate plate 2, two tabs 5 projecting from the outer surface 7 ofthe intermediate plate, one or more pairs of the lateral ribs 8projecting from the side surface 27 of the bar plug 4 and inclinedtoward the intermediate plate 2.

Small rectangular notches 14 may be formed in the flanges 10 of thespacer 11 to receive the edges 9 of the fasteners and thus to providefixed positioning of the clip on the spacer 11. The notches 14 arerelatively small and do not extend the full depth of the flanges 10 ofthe spacer 11. The spacer 11 may have one or two pairs of flange notches14. If the spacer 11 has one pair of notches at each edge, as depictedin FIG. 10, then such notches may be positioned on the opposite flanges10 of the spacer 11 generally diagonally to each other at such part ofthe flanges 10 of the spacer 11 where muntin bars are to be attached.Positioning and amount such notches 14 along the spacer 11 may depend onthe configuration of the fasteners 3 and/or the amount of the muntinbars to be positioned on the spacer 11.

The width of the tabs 5 projecting from the outer surface 7 of theintermediate plate 2 are preferably slightly narrower than the distancebetween edges 19 of the flanges 10 of the spacer 11 because suchconfiguration would allow the clip 1 to be aligned with the spacer 11and therefore, for the muntin bar 15 to be properly positioned relativeto the spacer 11. The tabs 5 may be semi-circle or semi-rectangular inshape.

For the aesthetic purposes the distance between the edges 20 (FIG. 3) ofthe intermediate plate 2 preferably would not exceed the width of thespacer 11, because in such embodiment, when the clip 1 is positioned onthe spacer 11, the edges 20 of the intermediate plate 2 would not extendover the spacer 11. Thus, if the muntin bar has the same width as spacer11 which is very common for insulating glass units, once the muntin baris positioned on the clip 1, the edges 20 of the intermediate plate 2would be coincident with width of the spacer and thus, the clip would becompletely hidden from view.

The extending fasteners 3 may provide fixed positioning of the clip 1 onthe spacer 11. Edges 9 of the clip may be embedded into the notches 14made in such spacer 11 and thus to make available immobility of the clip1 along spacer 11. The tabs 5 would provide the alignment along thespacer 11. It will be shown that the opposite tips 17 of the fasteners 3may extend beyond edges 19 of the flanges 10 spacer 11 underneath ofsuch edges, tripping flanges 10 between tips 17 and outer surface 7 ofthe intermediate plate 2 thus providing outward fixed positioning of theclip 1 relative to the spacer 11.

The fasteners 3 may be embodied as a relatively narrow strips ofpreferably flexible plastic material that extend outwardly from theouter surface 7 of the intermediate plate 2. At some point, initiallygenerally perpendicular to the outer surface 7 of the plate 2 directionof the fastener 3 may be changed approximately at the middle of itsentire length and at approximately 90 degrees forming the elbow toconform to the size of the intermediate plate 2 of the clip 1, and alsoto conform to the distance between notches 14 and to the width of theopening between the edges 19 of the flanges 10 of the spacer 11. It willbe shown that such shape of the fastener may provide better resilientflexibility of such fastener when it is positioned upon the spacer 11.Although only one embodiment of this invention is described, thoseskilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications ofthe exemplary embodiment are possible without materially departing fromthe novel teachings and advantages of this invention. While the edges 9of the fastener 1 are firmly attached in generally perpendiculardirection to the outer surface 7 of the intermediate plate 2, the otherends 12 of the fastener may be suspended in order to fastener 3 begenerally resiliently flexible. When both fasteners 3 are non-flexed,the distance between tips farthest points of edges 25 of 17 of thesuspended ends 12 may be wider than the distance between edges 19 of theflanges 10 of the spacer 11. It will be shown that such configuration ofthe fasteners would allow such tips 17 to extend over the edges 19 ofthe spacer 11 once the clip 1 is positioned on the spacer 11 whenfasteners' tips 17 are non-flexed. Thus, both fasteners may beresiliently deflectable toward and away from the outer surface 7 of theclip 1 as well as toward and away from each other. The positioning ofclip 1 upon the spacer 11 is conducted in the following way: while theedges 9 of the fasteners are snapped into the notches 14 of the spacer11, the clip 1 is pressed toward the spacer 11, the flanges 10 deflectthe suspended ends 12 of fasteners until such edges 9 of flanges 10reach the top surface of the tips 17 of ends 12 and such ends 12 returnsto their non-deflected position and tips 17 bear against inner side 13of the flanges 10 of the space frame provider 11.

The extending fastener 3 may have a body member 16, a tip 17, asuspended end 12, and an elbow 18. The tip 17 may have an upper edge 25and a lower edge 26. The edges 9 of the fasteners 3 may extend from theouter surface 7 of the intermediate plate 2 at any place, but such placemay depend upon the depth and configuration of the notches 14 of thespacer 11; the deeper the notches made from the edges 19, the closer tothe edges 20 of the intermediate plate 2. Such correlation between theconfiguration of the notches 14 and the positioning of the edges 9relative to the outer surface 7 of the intermediate plate 2 of the clip1 may be explained by the fact that while both edges 9 are embedded intosuch notches 14, the clip would be generally aligned fixedly positionedalong the spacer 11. As was mentioned above, although various shapes offastener may be used, the preferred embodiment has a shape of agenerally right angle elbow 18 formed on the fastener's body member 16.The location of such elbow 18 relative to the length of the fastener'sbody 16 may be at any place within such length, but in the preferredembodiment, such elbow 18 is generally in the middle of the fastener'sbody to achieve optimal resilient flexibility of the fastener 3.

While the edge 9 of the fastener 3 is firmly attached to the outersurface 7 of the intermediate plate 2, the other end 12 of the fastenershould be preferably suspended. The suspended end 12 of the fastener 3may have a tip 17. The tip 17 of the suspended end 12 of the fasteners3, that is configured generally as an A shape, be preferably taperedoutwardly from the intermediate plate 2 in such manner that the tip's 17thickness gradually increases from the lower edge 26 of the tip 17toward the upper edge 25 of the tip 17. The fasteners 3 may beconfigured in such way that the distance between the lower edges 26 ofboth tips of undeflected fasteners 3 is approximately equal to or lessthan the width of the gap between the edges 19 of the flanges 10 of thespacer 11 and the distance between upper edges 25 of the tips 17 of thefasteners 3 is slightly larger than the width of the gap between theedges 19 of the spacer 11. In such configuration, when the clip 1 ispushed toward the spacer 11, the fasteners 3 would enter the gap betweenedges 19 of flanges 20 of the spacer 11. If the distance betweenfarthest points of the lower edges 26 of the suspended ends 12 is equalor less that the width of the gap between flanges 20, and the distancebetween farthest point of the edges 25 of the tips 17 of the suspendedends 12, the flanges 20 at some point, would start applying pressuretoward tips 17 as the fasteners are deepening into such gap betweenflanges 10, and as a result, both fastener would flex toward each other.Also, it is preferred that there be a space provided between the upperedge 25 of the tip 17 of the fastener 3 and the outer surface 7 of theintermediate plate 2 of the clip 1 and the width of such space ispreferably equal or slightly larger then the thickness of the flanges 10of the spacer 11. It would allow the suspended ends 12 of the fasteners3, as they were flexed inwardly passing through the opening betweenedges 19 of the flanges 10 of the spacer, to return to their non-flexedposition when the outer surface 7 of the plate 2 contacts with thesurface 28 of the flanges 10 of the spacer 11 because at this point theflanges 10 of the spacer 11 may cease to contact with tips 17 of theends 12 of the fasteners 3. At this point, the upper edges 25 of thetips 17 would bear against the inner surface 13 of the flanges 10 of thespace frame provider 11 trapping the flanges 10 between the upper edges25 of the tips 17 and the outer surface 7 of the intermediate plate 2 ofthe clip 1 and as result, fixedly positioning the clip 1 on the spacer11.

The bar plug 4 be preferably a flat rectangular or square plate-likemember that may have a central rib 23, a lower cross-members 21 and anupper cross-member 22, and two pairs of lateral ribs 8. The central rib23 extends between the upper and lower cross members 21 and 22. Thelateral edges 24 of the upper cross member 22 are tapered away from theintermediate plate 2 for easier positioning of the muntin bar upon theclip 1. Because this embodiment facilitates insertion of the bar plug 4into the end of the hollow muntin bar, the width of the cross members 21and 22 be preferably approximately equal to the width of thecross-section of the muntin bar in order for the side edges of the crossmembers 21 and 22 to bear against the inside surfaces of the walls ofthe muntin bars to hold the bar plug 4 firmly inside the muntin bar.Moreover, when the bar plug 4 is inserted into the open end of themuntin bar, the lateral ribs frictionally engage the inner surface ofthe walls of the muntin bar and secure it to the clip 1.

Although only one embodiment of this invention has been in detailsdescribed above, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate thatmany modifications of the exemplary embodiment are possible withoutmaterially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of thisinvention. All such variations and modifications intended to be includedwithin the scope if this invention as defined in the claims.

Other modifications, substitutions, omissions and changes may be made inthe design, size, materials used or proportions, operating conditions,arrangement or positioning of elements and members of the preferredembodiment without departing from the spirit of this invention asdescribed in the claims.

1. A clip for attaching a tubular muntin bar to a spacer frame providercomprising a plate having a first edge and a second edge opposite saidfirst edge, said first and second edge being connected by first andsecond side edges and having an inner surface and an outer surface, saidinner surface having a bar plug that extends outwardly from the innersurface of said plate, said plate having a pair of flexible fastenersextending from the outer surface of said plate, said fasteners beingpositioned between a first tab at one edge of the outer surface of saidplate and a second tab at the opposite end edge of the outer surface. 2.The clip according to claim 1, wherein the fasteners are flexible andmove in the direction perpendicular to the said first and second edge.3. The clip according to claim 1, wherein a portion of each saidfastener bears against an inner surface of a flange on a space frameprovider.
 4. The clip according to claim 1, wherein said fastener has afirst end secured to said outer surface of said plate and a second endopposite said first end of said fastener.
 5. The clip according to claim4, wherein said fastener has a first section extending outwardly fromsaid plate and a second extending from said first section in a directiongenerally parallel to said plate and ending in said second end.
 6. Theclip according to claim 5, wherein the second section of said fastenerhas an A-shaped tip at its end.
 7. The clip according to claim 6,wherein the tip of said clip is deflected as said clip is inserted intoa space frame provider and said tip returns to its undeflected positionafter the clip is inserted into said frame thereby retaining said clipin said frame.
 8. The clip according to claim 1, wherein said tabsextend outwardly from the outer surface of the plate.
 9. The clipaccording to claim 1, wherein there is a space between the tip of thefastener and the outer surface of the intermediate plate.
 10. Anapparatus for connecting a muntin bar to a space frame providercomprising: an plate with an inner and an outer surface a first end anda second end; a first and second tab extending from the outer surface ofthe plate; one or more fasteners projecting from the outer surface ofsaid plate; a bar plug which extends from the inner surface of saidplate; and a plurality of lateral ribs which extend from the sides ofsaid bar plug comprising a tip and a base, said base extending from saidbar plug.
 11. The clip according to claim 10, wherein said bar plugfurther comprises an upper cross member, said upper cross member havinga top surface and a bottom surface and a first and a second end.
 12. Theclip according to claim 11 wherein said cross member provides a frictionfit with one or more of the interior walls of a muntin bar.
 13. The clipaccording to claim 12, wherein said cross member further comprises afirst and a second lateral edge at said first and second ends, saidfirst and second lateral edges being narrower at said top surface ofsaid cross member.
 14. The clip according to claim 13 wherein saidflexible fasteners are positioned between said tabs.
 15. The clipaccording to claim 14 wherein said tabs are positioned adjacent to saidfirst and second edges of said plate.
 16. The clip according to claim 15wherein said tabs and said fasteners are spaced apart.
 17. The clipaccording to claim 12, wherein said lateral ribs and said cross memberfrictionally engage one or more inner surface walls of a muntin bar whensaid bar plug is inserted into the muntin bar.
 18. The clip according toclaim 14, wherein said tabs are adapted to be received by a channel on aspace frame provider.
 19. The clip according to claim 10 wherein saidflexible fasteners have a generally S shape.
 20. The clip according toclaim 19 wherein one end of said S curve shape of said fastener issecured to said outer surface of said plate by means of a protrusionfrom said outer surface of said plate and the other end of said S curveshape is free.
 21. The clip according to claim 20 wherein the S curve ofsaid fastener is generally parallel to the outside surface of saidplate.
 22. The clip according to claim 10 wherein said tabs protrudefrom the outer surface of said plate in a direction transverse to thedirection of the bar plug.
 23. The clip according to claim 20 whereinsaid tabs have a semicircular cross section.
 24. The clip according toclaim 20 wherein said tabs have a rectangular cross section.
 25. Theclip according to claim 10 wherein said flexible fasteners arepositioned between said tabs.
 26. The clip according to claim 25 whereinsaid tabs are positioned adjacent to said first and second ends of saidplate.
 27. The clip according to claim 26 wherein said tabs and saidfasteners are spaced apart.